Blown It

March 2

Cock-a-doodle-doo, Peter blew it and he knew it. When it came to his relationship with Jesus, Peter had walked with him, he had talked with him; he'd been with him through calm seas and rough rugged waters. Peter had seen the miracles first hand and felt the love, yet when the going got tough, Peter's love commitment wavered and he had short term memory loss and was ready to take a hike.

Reflect on what happened in Mark 14:66-72

While all this was going on, Peter was down in the courtyard. One of the Chief Priest's servant girls came in and, seeing Peter warming himself there, looked hard at him and said, "You were with the Nazarene, Jesus."

He denied it: "I don't know what you're talking about." He went out on the porch. A rooster crowed. The girl spotted him and began telling the people standing around, "He's one of them." He denied it again. After a little while, the bystanders brought it up again. "You've got to be one of them. You've got 'Galilean' written all over you."

Now Peter got really nervous and swore, "I never laid eyes on this man you're talking about." Just then the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered how Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows twice, you'll deny me three times." He collapsed in tears.

Anyone who has been quick to say, "How could Peter deny knowing Christ?" need only take a look into the mirror of their past and ask to be shown ways we have hurt the ones we love and the finger of judgement will drop. I'd love the chance to rewind 35 years and take every hurtful word, action or unkind look I've tossed my husband's and children's way back.

Jesus knew Peter was going to blow it, yet he didn't love him any less. Likewise, Christ is fully aware of our weaknesses and sins. He knows we've blown it many a time and still have some blowing to do in the future, but He remains steadfast in his love commitment to us.